Receiving a failing grade on an exam in an important college course is best described as a(n)

A) alarm reaction.
B) relative deprivation.
C) stressor.
D) fight-or-flight response.

Receiving a failing grade on an important college course is a common stressor for students. This event can cause mental and emotional strain and disrupt the balance of the individual’s life, leading to overall distress. A fight-or-flight response is a physiological response to a life-threatening situation, which is not relevant in this situation. An alarm reaction is the initial response to a stressor, but it's not specific enough to describe the situation. Relative deprivation is the perception that one is worse off than others with whom one compares oneself, but it's not applicable to this scenario.